I’m reading in Luke the account of Jesus’s trial and death. No one wanted to be responsible for killing Jesus it seems–none of the leaders anyways. But due to the crowd screaming for Jesus’s death, Pilate gave in.
Jesus therefore died due to the power of crowd mentality. These same people who were praising Jesus when he entered Jerusalem almost in the same breath were now calling for his death. Why?
Because people went along with the crowd. And people behave differently when in a crowd. We have probably all experienced some form of this in our own lives.
Otherwise known as Mob Mentality, Crowd Hysteria, or Herd Behavior, man’s imbedded desire to be liked arises and makes him do things he otherwise would not.
I’m wondering if Pilate himself was afraid of this mob. We’re not for sure how large the crowd was around Jesus but I’m imagining it must have been considerable in order for Pilate (arguably one of the most powerful men in the Roman Empire at that time) to give in. Crowds can in one instant change the focus of their anger.
I find this fascinating. Jesus who had come to save man was ultimately done in by man’s character flaws (of which God had created). He died by the hands of the people He had come to save.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the whole concept of God having planned everything, including the Fall and Jesus. It seems like man is the cause of a lot of heartache in this world. Yet God created us, who we are deep inside, which leads to this heartache.
Why would God create such a flawed creation (when He is perfect) and put up with us? Why not either: 1) not create us at all or 2) create us differently to avoid all this?
Maybe God has hope one day we will overcome our innate iniquities and tendencies.
The reasoning is beyond me. Another twist on yesterday’s question about the Fall.
Note to self: ASK GOD when get to heaven.